Tool handle



Nov. 20, 1923. lA-"MLBY G. |..E\NlS TOOL HANDLE Filed June 6, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/tlgo Z 4/ o o G. LEWIS TOOL HANDLE Nov. 20, 1923.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, ).921

@e @wgylf QU@ @97 @Lim/(ww @MEM Wawy@ Patented Nov. 20, w23.

GEORGE LEWIS, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOOL HANDLE.

Application led June 6.

T o all 'whom t may cof/cern Be it known that I, Geenen Lnwis, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tool Handles, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to improvements in tool handles. It relates more particularly to that type of tool handle in which the same handle is adapted to serve for various tools each of which is insertible separately therein for use. Handles of' this sort have long been known, but in all such handles, so far as I am aware, the tool after insertion mus-t be secured to lthe handle; and thereafter, it must be unfastened before it can be withdrawn.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a handle into which the shank of a tool may be slipped easily, and from which it may be removed as easily, and yet which holds Ithe tool so as to enable the user to perform all the ordinary operations for which the tool is adapted. It is a further object to thus hold the tool without the tightening of screw threaded clamping members being required, nor the driving in of wedge members to make a binding fit. It is a still further obj ect to provide for protecting the handle from the blow of an auxiliary tool, as a hammer, by providing for the direc-t transmission of the force or" the blow through the handle, without affecting the grip portion thereof. Although the type in which single ended bits are slipped into a neck provided for them is the form herein shown as especially preferred, certain parts of the invention are applicable to handles in which double bits with a blade at each end, are received with the handle encasing one of the blades and with said blade co-operating in the positioning of the blade which is set `for use. Y The first mentioned objects are accomplished by providing a handle comprising a bar of channel iron, looped so as to form a hand-grip portion and a socket or neck portion, the latter being below or forward of the former; the ends of the looped iron being brought together in approximate parallelism. The socket-forming ends of the iron are held together by ferrules,` carrying spring strips or leaves which so regulate the clamping effect of the ferrules that the frictional grip on the shank of the tool 1921. sei-iai no. 475,196.

is sufficiently great to retain it in the socket during ordinary use of the tool, yet not so great as to prevent the instant. and easy withdrawal or insertion of the tools by hand. Nithin the hand-grip portion of the iron, and 'extending part way within the socket portion is a member constituting a bumper for the end of the tool which enters the socket. This bumper is so retained in the handle as to transmit directly to the shank end of the `tool any blow delivered on the butt end of the looped iron, thus protecting the handle itself from the danger of injury usually resulting from such blows, and preventing absorption of the blow by the body of the handle. This in turn permits the body of the handle to be made of molded rubber which is both economical for manufacture of desired oval or irregular shape, comfortable for resiliency and grip, and capable of being made at the same time strong and tough.

ne form of handle having a square-holed socket is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but it will be manifest the handle could be made to accommodate shanks of diffe-rent shapes, the drawing being merely illustrative of the principles of the inventio-n. The patent is intended to cover, by suitable expression in the app-ended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exists in the invention disclosed.

In the drawings: Y

Figure l is an axial section of a tool handle embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the bar alone after being formed in shape for assembling in the handle;

Figure 3 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure i is a section on line lr-4 of F igure l looking from the tool end;

Figure 5 is an end view of the handle looking toward the butt end;

Figure 6 is a view of the handle assembled, with part ofthe neck portion cut away;

Figure 7 is a view showing a modificat-ion of the bar loop;

`Figure 8 is a perspective of the butt end of the bar loop shown in Figure 8;

Figure 9 shows a modification of the llers;

F igur-e 10 is a section on line l0-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view partly in section showing modifie-ations of the iiller and bumper;

Y section 10 of the Figure 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a. view partly in section, showing still other modifications ot the iller, and also ot the bar loop;

Figure 14 is a section on line 14e-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a view partly in section and somewhat enlarged, showing the relative positions of the bar ends when the terrules and leaf springs are removed;

kFigure 16 is similar to Figure v15, but shows the positions ot the parts whenv the leaf springs are applied; and

1 Figure 17 is a similar view showing the bar ends, leat springs and ierrules, ready to receive the tool shank.

Referring to the drawings; a bar of channel iron 10 is bent at its middle portion 12 'and looped back on itself until its ends 14 and 16 are brought together in approximate parallelism to enable their channels to coact to form a socket portion 18, ot appreciablelength, in which the shank end or tang 20 of the tool (not shown,) may be inserted a limited distance. This limit is determined by a bumper 22, which extends from the socket portion rearward through the center of the handle between the looped or curved channel iron, into cont-act with the middle portion 12 of the latter. Although illustrated as completely filling the space surrounded by the channel iron, this bumper might be a piece of straight rectangular or cylindrical stock lying within this space and reaching from the looped end of the handle into the socket portion. The section of the bumper within the socket holds the bumper in axial alignment within the tool handle, which alignment may be further assured by a pair ot blocks 24 and 26 constituting fillers to the handle, for lling out or finishing the hand-gripping` portion, which blocks centrally rest against the bumper, or may do so, and the sides of the iron, and aid in retaining the forme-r in proper position with respect to the latter. The pressure of these blocks on the loop 10', however, must be sufficiently small to permit movement of the ends 14 and 16 toward and away from the axis of the handle. These blocks may be held in place by any suitable means, such as the rivets 28, there being a plate 30 under the rivet heads to protect the blocks and distribute the clamp ing effect of the rivets. One benefit resulting from the use of the bumper for transmitting the force ot a blow directly to the tool, is that the channel iron may be greatly narrowed where it curves about the handle portion. For example, the channel sides and part of the bottom may be entirely removed leaving but annarrow strip of iron extending around the handle from one side of the socket back to its other side.

If g channel iron is used, the strip 10' around the hand-gripping portion may be only Jg" wide, thus making a relatively light though very strong handle. This reduction of metal in the handle enables a larger part of the handle to be constitutedby the iillers making a lighter' tool that handles better and is better nished. These illers may be made flush with the iron strips as shown in Figure 4 at 31, or may be made with lips adapted to overly the iron strip 10 Covering the iron completely from View except, ot course, at the very butt ot the handle where it is desirable to leave the metal exposed to receive a blow as hereinbetore mentioned. This thinning down of the metallic rim and the removal lol the sides of the channel does away with the ordinary stitfness ofthe channel iron, and makes the looped portion more or less resilient, depending upon the amount the stock is reduced, so that when bent into shape the ends ot the iron may be set so as to have a tendency to remain spread a shortV distance, thus constituting a split of the neck where the shank of the tool is to be gripped between the two ends of the loop.

This spreading tendency of the socket forming ends of the channel iron is overcome and the end held together by two errules 32 and' 34, one of which 32 lies around that portion or' the socket. filled by the end of the bumper, and the other of which 34 surrounds the portion occupied by the shank of 'the tool. On each outer face ot the channel iron, which tends to spring` outward, there lies a flat leat1 spring 36 between it and the inside ot the two ferrules. These springs provide the desired delicacy of friction for permitting the shank of a tool to be pushed in or pulled out by hand. and yet to be held therein while the tool is in use. They overcome to a degree the normal tendency of the handle ends to spring apart, so that when there is no tool in the handle the socket walls are pressed in and the socket made smaller in one of its dimensions. The function ot the springs and terrules is illustrated in vFigures 15, 16 and 17. In Figure 15 the jaws 14 and 16 of the socket 18 are shown spread to the limit ot movement due to their own resiliency, and it is seen that when so spread they diverge slightly toward the tool end. Then the springs 36 and the errule 32 are slipped on, the force of t-he springs 36 is sufficient to overcome the spreading tendency of the jaws themselves, and cause them to move closer together as shown in Figure 16; Upon the ferrule 34 being applied around the ends of the springs 36 the latter exert still greater pressure on the jaws 14 and 16, :torcing them nearer together until they coni/*erge slightlyV toward the tool end. This result is illustrated in Figure 17.

Upon the tool shank being pushed in, the handle irons are spread against the force of the flat leaf springs until the limit of spread, as determined by the ferrules, is reached, at which time the frictional grip on the shank is suilicient to hold it with suilicient firmness for all ordinary uses which include pushing, prying, scraping, twisting and in fact everything exceptpulling. This frictional grip, however, due to the resiliency of the flat springs as well las to the elasticity of the jaws themselves, is easily overcome by a direct pull or push on the tool to extract it from or to insert it in the handle.

vThe upper ferrule 32 surrounding that portion of the socket housing the bumper, is penetrated by a pin 38 whichV passes loosely through the ferrule 32, the handle irons 1e and 16, and the flat leaf springs 36, thereby allowing the handle and springs to contact or expand freely. The pin is tight only with the bumper 32, whereby the transmission of a blow delivered on the end of the handle is through, the bumper to the tool, and no part of this blow is transmitted by the pin to the handle or ferrule. A1- though the leaf springs are retained from undue displacement by the pin 38, further provision in this respect may be made by bending the springs outward and around the ferrule through which the pin passes, as shown at 36 in'Figure 1. And, if desired, the other ends of the springs may be bent outward, as shown dot-ted at 36, from the handle to prevent the other or free ferrule 3e from sliding olf, while permitting it to be driven further along theI handle in one direction, in any case when it is desired to tighten the grip on the tool, to make it more secure than the gentle friction hold construction above described, or to drive it in the other direction to loosen this grip. Although two ferrules are shown in the drawings, one might serve, except that a iner adjustment of the `frictional engagement is possible with the two ferrules shown, than is ordinarily possible with one. These ferrules may be Vsplit on one Side, as illustrated, with particular advantage if the 'shank grips converge slightly, as may sometimes happen, the spreading of 'the ferrule at the split giving a high degree of additional elastic constriction; but if this is not needed the split may be omitted. The socket-forming ends of the channel iron may also be split lengthwise of their channels as shown at 40, to permit a slight approach of the quarters thus formed toward each other in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the separate ends toward each other.

Modifications of the handle of the invention are shown in Figures 7 to 14. In Figure 7, a handle is illustrated which is adapted particularly for holding tools which are to be driven, such as chisels. A portion 12 of the channel iron at the butt of the handle is retained in its original size, shown clearly in Figure 8, with its outer surface flat to constitute a driving head to receive the blow of a hammer or mallet. The sides 10 of the channel, which are not cut away7 provide suitable holding means for the end of the bumper, which may be large enough to fill the channel so as to be retained therein in axial alignment with the tool An insulated handle for Vholding tools used on electrical apparatus is shown in Figures 9 and 10, in which the blocks or fillers 24 26', made of rubber or other nonconducting material, completely surround the metal, the fillers being shaped to allow the metallic loop and bumper 22 to fit within them. Large holes in the bumper, through which the rivets extend, permit the passage of projecting sleeves 26 from the filler, around the rivets, thus, completely insulating the rivets from the bumper.

In Figures 1l to le inclusive, other forms of filler and bumper are shown, In Figures 11 and 12 the filler 24 is illustrated as made in one piece.'having a groove 25 along` each edge into which the strip 10 of the metallic loop may fit. In Figures 13 and 14; the iron rim of the handle is not cut away, but is bent in its channel shape to form the loop. Its one piece filler 2*-1 has a tongue 2T along its edge which fits within the groove of, the channel iron. A hole 29 extends through these onepiece fillers, and into this hole the stem 3l of a bumper 22 is inserted. This bumper is provided with a T-head portion 83 which intervenes between the butt end of the filler and the inside surface of the bend l2 of the bar 10, as shown in Figure l1. Then thus positioned, the shank of a tool may pass through the socket end 18 of the handle, and through thev hole 29 in the filler until it encounters the end of the stem 3l. The bumper may be reversed in position and put at the other end of the loop; as pictured in Figure 13. In this case the tool shank en counters the bumper before entering the filler, being bottomed on the head 33 of the bumper. If the bumper is removed from the i'iller, the tool may be pushed entirely through the filler until it rests on the inside surface of the bar at the butt end of the handle. It is thus possible with the single handle, with the reversible bumper, and a single bit, to obtain three different lengths of tool measuring from the butt end of the handle to the operating end of the tool: or to use the same handle with removable bits of three different lengths, while making the whole tool of unchanged length.

I claim:

1. A tool holder comprising a bar in loophandle form with its ends together in near parallelism and adapted to receive and enease the shank of a tool, combined with a ferrule embracing said ends; there being resilient means between the ferrule and one of said ends, whereby the latter is yieldingly pressed against the said shank. Y

2. A- tool holder comprising a bar' in loophandle form with its ends together in near parallelism and adapted to receive and encase the shank of a tool, combined with a ferrule split longitudinally and adapted to be non-rotatably loose and tight while embracing said ends; there .being resilient means between the ferrule and one of said ends, whereby the latter is yieldinglyv pressed against the said shank.

3. A tool holder comprising a bar in loophandle form with its ends together in near parallelism and adaptedto receive and encase the shank of a tool, combined with a ferrule embracing said ends; there being a strip of resilient material between thev ferrule and outer surface of one of said ends, normally holding the said end away from the ferrule but being adapted to perniit yielding of the end toward the ferrule upon the insertion of the tool shank.

4. A tool holder comprising a bar in loophandle form with its ends together in near parallelism and adapted to receive and encase. the shank of a tool, combined with a plurality of ferrulesl ldistributed along and embracing the ends; there being resilient means between each ofsaid ferrules and the outer surface of one of -said ends, whereby the end may be yieldingly pressed toward each ferrule upon insertion of the shank of a tool.l l

5. A tool holder comprising a bar in loophandle form with its ends together in parallelism and constituting between themv a smooth channel of uniform cross section adapted for receiving and gripping the shank of a tool, combined with means adapted to hold the said ends together with possibility of slight movement from said position; and resilient means interposed between the last said means and the said ends'.

G. Bi tool holder comprising a bar curved into form of a handle, having a split neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool, and having a loopedV portion; two blocks, one ateach side clamped together about said loop portion, constituting fillers for the handle; and means around said neck portion for clamping said tool.

7. A tool holder comprising a bar curved into form of a handle, having a split neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool, and having a looped portion; adapted for primary gripping by the hand; a filler held within the looped portion for filling the hollow of the hand and adapted for subsidiary gripping; and means coactbody portion lits within the hollow of theV hand; and there beingmeans around said neck portion for clamping said tool.

9. A tool holder comprising a bar curved into loop form adapted to clamp a tool shank within its neck portion, and having a loop portion; two blocks? of insulating material adapted tobe clamped together about said loop portion to encase it, and means around the neck portion for clamping Vsaid tool shank; the said blocks providing an ,insulated surface for manual gripping .while the tool is in electrical contact with the thing on which it operates.

10. A tool holder comprising a bar whose ends together make a neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool. and whose middle constitutes a loop; combined with a removable filler held `within the loop, providing suitable surface for manual gripping, and having an axial hole in continuation of said-socket; and a T- shaped tool bumper, whose leg isl adapted to stand in said hole with its head at either end of the filler.

1l. A tool holder comprising a bar whose ends together make a neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool.v and whose middle constitutes a loop; combined with a removable filler held within the loop, providing suitable surface for manual gripping, and having an axial hole in continuation of said socket; Vand a T- shaped tool bumper. whose'leg is adapted to stand in said hole with its headl interposed bctween the butt of saidV filler and the butt end of the loop.

l2. A tool holder comprising a bar whose ends together make a neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, Ya tool, and whose` middle constitutes a loop; and a filler held within the loop, providing suitable surface for manual gripping, and having` an axial hole; in continuation of said socket through which the tool may extend to butt against the bar at the end of the loop more remote from the neck portion.

13. A tool holder comprising a bar whose lends together make a neck portion constituting a socket for, and Shank grip of, a tool, and whose middle is a thin looped portion; combined with blocks clamped together onthe sides of said looped portion and providing surface for manual gripping; and a bumper between said blocks, extendneck portion; a bumper extending from the ing in the medial plane Vof the handle from the inside of the butt end of said looped prtion toward said neck portion for limiting the insertion of said t'ool shank.

lll. A tool handle comprising a bar in loop-handle form having a split neck portion adapted to receive and grip the shank of a tool, and having a looped portion with filling means adapted Jfor manual gripping; a pair of ferrules about said neck portion holding it together; spring strips between said ferrules and the outside surface of said butt end of the loop portion between said fillers toward and into the neck portion, against which the end of the tool shank may rest; and a pin secured to the part of the bumper within the neck portion but passing loosely through the neck portion, the spring strips and one of said ferrules, transverse to their direction of slippage, whereby blows on the butt are transmitted through the bumper to the tool shank.

15. A tool holder comprising a bar in loop-handle form having a neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool, and having a looped portion with a channel-butt adapted to receive the blow of another tool; combined with a bumper extending through said looped portion into said neck portion, having one end in said channel-butt and the other end in said socket, whereby the blow of the other tool may be transmitted direct through said channel-butt and the bumper to the tool held in the handle.

16. A tool holder comprising a neck portion constituting a socket for, and shank grip of, a tool, and having a looped portion;

combined with enveloping fillers of insulating material, adapted to house the said loop and provide suitable surface for manual gripping; there being insulated clamps holding said fillers together.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 31st day of May, 1921.

GEORGE LEWIS. 

